The Church wants 24 years in jail for six anti-abortion reform activists

The Bishopric of Mallorca has asked for four years for each one who interrupted a mass in the Palma church in February 2014.

Aug 31, 2015 - 1:39 PM

The Church of Mallorca, which is exercising a private prosecution in this case, wants 24 years in jail whom they accuse of several crimes of causing offence against religious sentiment.

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The Prosecution asked for a total of nine years in prison for the accused and a petition of 18 months for each one. The instruction of the case will be judged in the Palma Provincial Court and will be completed this week.

It was on Sunday February 9 2014 in the Church of Saint Michael in Palma.
When the Sunday Eucharist was in action, some thirty youngsters rushed into the temple, launching slogans such as ‘free abortion’ and carrying some placards.

Their intrusion was met with opposition from some of the parishioners who took it on themselves to evict the youngsters from the church.
The action was recorded on video by the protestors, who were later detained by the National Police. One of the arrested was underage and will complete a soft sentence for his involvement.

According to a press statement, the accused denied having committed any crime saying it was ‘a legitimate exercise in freedom of expression’ and no crime was committed.

They consider it not to be a crime to demonstrate openly in public against the Government’s plans for change which have been made behind the backs of the citizens and furthermore they think their dramatic protest had led in mayor part to the withdrawal of Gallardón’s abortion reform.

Sources close to the Mallorca Bishopric, affirmed they have always been open for dialogue, provided the youngsters apologise and recognise their errors, and in addition they had decided not to request the longest prison term set out in the Penal Code which is a maximum of six years, for this sort of protest.